Ma. Theresa U.

Prudencio International Political Economy

AB Foreign Service 302 Sir. Jumel G. Estrañero
March 24, 2018

Film Critique of Hotel Rwanda and its Relationship to Political Economy of the Philippines

The Tutsi and the Hutu are two ethnic groups in Rwanda, these two are not really distinct
groups, thus, they are similar genetically, culturally, and linguistically. The Hutu-Tutsi strife arise
from class welfare, with the minority Tutsis meaning noble was discerned to have greater wealth
and social status than the lower-class of Hutu, meant as peasants. The Tutsi monarchy was
overthrown by Belgian colonizers in the 1960s where Rwanda was took by force by the Hutu. On
1994, Hutu President of Rwanda Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundi President Cyprien Ntaryamira
was assassinated when the plane was shot down. Hutu extremists blamed the Rwandan Patriotic
Front (RPF), a group of Tutsi rebels while the RPF put blame also to the Hutus to provide an
excuse for genocide. This incident have resulted to one of the most excruciating antiquity in
humankind, the Rwandan Genocide. It was a genocidal mass slaughter of around 800,000 of Tutsis
by Hutu militias in the 100-day period in 1994.
In the movie, Hotel Rwanda, it depicted the life of the people of Rwanda in the heart
wrenching Rwandan crisis. The life of Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu who worked as a hotel manager,
used his skills in bargaining and sagacious attitude to protect and save his family as well as the
lives of 1,268 Hutu and Tutsi refugees during the humanitarian crisis in Rwanda. He was married
to Tatiana Rusesabagina, a Tutsi, and during the crisis, Paul’s role as a husband, father, neighbor,
manager and a countryman was challenged and tested on how to safeguard his family and his
countrymen from the Interahamwe. Paul used everything he have, money and influences;
principles he believed in; and his faith in succeeding these challenges. He made a difference, not
only to his family but also to the lives he saved during the crisis. Georges Rutaganda, one of the
most prominent leaders of Interahamwe militia that also led the genocide. He was the one who
also encouraged the militia to exterminate all “cockroaches” or the Tutsis and was allegedly raped
and tortured Tutsi women. Also, General Augustin Bizimungu was an example of a corrupt officer,
who obtained money as the price for a person’s security and life. Another character that played a
significant role was, Colonel Oliver based on Romeo Dallaire, a General Force Commander of
UNAMIR. Throughout the movie, I have seen how Col. Oliver wanted to help the people of
Rwandan, yet he was chained to the commands of the Westerners, as he said, they were only
peacekeepers not peacemakers. His line got me thinking that in times of humanitarian crisis, is
there a distinction between peacekeepers and peacemakers? The character of Col. Oliver
symbolizes the existence of international organizations and if they are efficient enough to do their
purpose in times of humanitarian crisis. The movie was traumatic and alarming as it presented the
idea of race, racial inferiority and discrimination, corruption and weaknesses, that despite the
challenges we face, we need to set aside social and political differences, be powerful and hopeful
to uphold our faith in humanity.
 Security was also a challenged in the film, and the question of how does it affects the political
economy of a country, is an important paradigm to a state’ development and stability. In the Asia
Pacific, countries with prosperous economy are enhancing their national security as a strategic
measurement together with their foreign policy. Take China for example, they have the fastest
growing economy and they are currently in a political reform to a sole leadership and extending
President Xi Jinping’s term that is posing a positive impact on Chinese markets, thus they already
secured militarization on the South China Sea. As to Philippines’ national security, it is still a
problem our country is facing. Terrorism and insurgencies are widely spreading in the country and
internal security is tested. This is also a hindrance to foreign investments in the country, as
investors are locating their businesses to a country with secured and stable internal and external
security measurements.
I think that peace should come first, because chaos is an impediment to development, unless
peace is attained. If peace was achieved, then it will be much easier to formulate and apply
development. If development will happen at times of war, destruction follows, that will ruin
developments and will be back to zero again. As with the recent Marawi crisis, peace was now
attained, thus rehabilitation and soon development will follow. Yet, it is a long way to achieve
development in Marawi but soon we will see development in the future. The Philippines is making
a good strategy in attaining peaceful and sustainable development in adopting UN’s Sustainable
Developments Goals and in partnering with ASEAN in fighting terrorism and insurgencies around
the region.
The Philippine should first, strengthen our national security in terms of militarization,
cybersecurity and the likes. Second, the RP should always be engaged in dialogues fighting
terrorism with other regional and international organization. And lastly, peaceful negotiations
should always be of consideration for our country to achieve development and stability.